One Israeli Pound - 1958

Analysis/Interpretation/Press:

"The abstract patterns of the first series did not meet with public approval. When criticism mounted, the Governor decided to issue a new series, and appointed a public committee to plan the notes. The committee selected drawings of people illustrating different walks of Israeli life (a pioneer-woman soldier, fisherman, scientist, etc.) as the principal motif and archaeological subjects as the secondary motif.
The form and size of the notes differed from those of the previous series. The basic sketches were the work of Israeli artists. The series was put into circulation in 1959-60, and gradually replaced the previous series."

From this series onwards, the banknotes of Israel are printed in several state or state-controlled banknote printing works in Europe.

Size: 135 X 75 mm

Dominant colour: Blue

Front: Fisherman carrying fishing gear against a background of a bay; the denomination "One Israeli Pound" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew

Back: Mosaic from the floor of an ancient synagogue at lssafiya on Mt. Carmel; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic

Watermark: The face of the fisherman

Security thread: On the left-hand side of the note

Colour of numbering: Black. Red (June 1964)

Signatures: Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl

Design: (Front) Shamir Brothers, (Reverse) Jacob Zim

Year: 1958

Date of issue: October 15, 1959

Ceased to be legal tender: March 31, 1984

Note: In the 1966 series the security thread on the left was moved to the middle and replaced by a morse code signifying "Bank of Israel"